Work Vehicle

ABSTRACT

A work vehicle includes an engine, an authentication processing unit for permitting the engine to be started only when stored authentication information and authentication information inputted by a manual operation are identical to each other, storage means for pre-storing the stored authentication information, a first switch and a second switch for performing the manual operation, authentication information identifying means for comparing the inputted authentication information acquired by the authentication processing unit with the stored authentication information, and power controlling means for allowing power to be supplied to a starter motor of the engine when the inputted authentication information is identical to the stored authentication information at the authentication information identifying means. The authentication processing unit is configured to acquire, as the inputted authentication information, the number of operation iterations of the first switch and the number of operation iterations of the second switch.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.13/424,446, filed Mar. 20, 2012, which claims the benefit of JapaneseApplication Nos. JP 2011-163488 and JP 2011-165754, filed on Jul. 26,2011 and Jul. 28, 2011, respectively, which are each hereby incorporatedby reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a work vehicle such as a tractor.

2. Description of the Related Art

[1] In a work vehicle, a setting screen selected by a settinginformation processing unit provided to an information displaying devicethereof from among a plurality of set screens corresponding to aplurality of information items is displayed on a display, and the setinformation corresponding to the selected setting screen is changed.

For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2009-143456 (JP2009-143456 A) discloses a configuration comprising a display (a displayunit in JP 2009-143456 A) for displaying various different informationitems of a vehicle body, a switch operational tool for switching thescreen displayed on the display, and a setting operational tool forperforming various different settings.

In JP 2009-143456 A, a plurality of basic screens can be switched by aswitch operational tool and the display of the basic screen makes itpossible to understand needed information from the screen. When, in asituation where a basic screen is being displayed, a setting button isoperated, the selected screen corresponding to the basic screen isthereby displayed, and the display is made to display an operation guidefor guiding the selection of a setting item being displayed on theselection screen. In a situation where both the selection screen and theoperation guide are being displayed in this manner, it is possible toselect a setting item and perform a setting by following the operationguide, and operating a change operational tool after such a settingmakes it possible to complete the setting processing.

Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2010-013060 (JP 2010-013060 A)discloses a configuration (an information display system for a vehicle)in which a meter includes a display and with an operation input unitwhich can be operated by being pressed. In such a configuration, thedisplay content is switched sequentially in a fixed sequence each timethe operation input unit is pressed briefly (for example, for less thanfive seconds), and, when the operation input unit is pressed for a longtime (for example, for at least five seconds), a sub-menu for selectinga desired change input screen from a plurality of change input screensis displayed. Within the sub-menu, when the operation input unit ispressed briefly, a cursor for indicating a change input menu is therebysequentially moved, it being then possible to select a change inputmenu; when the operation input unit is pressed for a long time, anunderlying sub-menu is thereby displayed and the setting content can bechanged. The inputted content is confirmed and the sub-menu screen isrestored when a operation-free state continues beyond an inputconfirmation interval (for example, for five seconds) after a changesetting is inputted by the operation of the operation input unit in thechange input screen.

In JP 2010-013060 A, when a single operation input unit constituted ofthe press-operated type is press-operated for only a short period oftime, the display content of a display is thereby sequentially switched,and when the operation input unit is press-operated for a long period oftime, the setting content is thereby changed.

As disclosed in JP 2009-143456 A and JP 2010-013060 A, the operation ofswitching the display content of the display by an operation performedby a worker makes it possible to understand the work situation from thedisplay of the display, and to check a setting value, the operatingsituation of various machines, and the like.

The ability to change a setting by an operation involving a specificswitch, as disclosed in JP 2009-143456 A, also sometimes leads to afalse setting when the switch is operated mistakenly, for example, whenthe worker is unaware that the setting is being changed. In particular,setting the unit when fuel consumption is displayed, setting anoperating mode when various machines are operated, clearing the value(s)of a trip meter, and other such operations are not very frequentlyperformed, and setting by a service technician is preferred.

In view whereof, changing the mode of operation, as disclosed in JP2010-013060 A, presumably renders it more difficult for a setting to bechanged; however, as in JP 2010-013060 A, the screen is switched whenthe operation input unit is press-operated briefly, and a move is madeto a screen making it possible to change a setting when the operationinput unit is press-operated for a long time; even though the inputtedcontent is confirmed by the elapsing of a period of time thereafter, itis impossible to avoid a false setting, and there remains room forimprovement.

One object of the present invention is to provide a reasonableconfiguration for an information displaying device for suppressing thedefect where set information corresponding to a setting screen displayedon a display is mistakenly changed while permitting an operation forswitching to and displaying on a display a single one of a plurality ofset screens.

[2] In a work vehicle, there is sometimes provided an authenticationprocessing unit for allowing an engine to be started only when memoryauthentication information, which is pre-stored, and inputtedauthentication information, which is inputted, are identical to eachother.

For example, in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2008-162337 (JP2008-162337 A), a configuration is such that a plurality of operationswitches arranged on an operation panel can be used for password inputswitching; after an engine is started, when the plurality of operationswitches is operated in a set sequence, the inputted sequence isunderstood to be a password, and continuous driving of the enginebecomes possible when the password is identical to a previously setpassword.

In JP 2008-162337 A, the plurality of operation switches is to be usedduring work, and there is provided a controller (corresponding to anauthentication processing unit) for acquiring information on theoperation switches. A password (corresponding to authenticationinformation) is set in a memory of the controller, and, when theinputted password (the sequence of operation of the plurality ofoperation switches) is identical to a previously set password, then, asdescribed above, continuous driving of the engine is rendered possible,while when the passwords are not identical, then the controller performsa control for stopping the engine to prevent theft.

In Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2005-255134 (JP 2005-255134 A),the number of iterations where an engine key switch for starting anengine is operated to a start position is inputted as a cipher number,it being rendered possible to send power to a starter motor and startthe engine only when the inputted cipher number is identical to apre-set number of iterations.

JP 2005-255134 A discloses a configuration in which a signal system intowhich a signal from the engine key switch is inputted is provided to atheft prevention device (corresponding to the authentication processingunit) having a central processing unit (CPU), the cipher number(corresponding to the authentication information) being stored in anelectrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) of thetheft prevention device. Thereby, it becomes possible to start theengine when the number of iterations where the engine key switch isoperated to the start position is identical to the authenticationnumber, and it becomes impossible to start the engine when the numbersare not identical, thus preventing theft.

Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2008-162337 (JP 2008-162337 A)discloses a configuration in which, when a pre-existing plurality ofoperation switches is operated, an authentication is thereby executed;when the number of operation switches used in the authentication isincreased in order to enhance the precision of the authentication, moreeffort and time are needed, because the hands are moved more when theplurality of operation switches is operated. In contrast thereto,Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2005-255134 (JP 2005-25534 A)discloses a configuration in which the precision of the authenticationis enhanced even while only a single engine key switch is to be used.

However, performing the authentication based on the number of iterationswhere a single switch is operated, as in the configuration of JP2005-255134 A, also has limitations on enhancing the precision of theauthentication, and there remains room for improvement.

One object of the present invention is to provide a reasonableconfiguration for a work vehicle for enhancing the precision of anauthentication when an engine is to be started, while using a smallernumber of switches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In particular, the above object noted in previous section [1] isfulfilled by one aspect of a work vehicle according to the invention, asunder:—

A work vehicle comprising:

a display; and

an information displaying device, the information displaying deviceincluding: a setting information processing unit for displaying, on thedisplay, a setting screen selected from among a plurality of set screenscorresponding to a plurality of information items, and for changing theset information corresponding to the selected setting screen; andoperation information discriminating means for determining a firstoperation information item and a second operation information iteminputted by a manual operation;

wherein the setting information processing unit includes:

-   -   setting screen displaying means for displaying the setting        screen on the display; and    -   setting information changing means for allowing changing of the        set information when the setting screen is displayed on the        display;

wherein when the operation information discriminating means determinesthat the first operation information item is inputted, the settingscreen displaying means performs display processing in a transitiondisplay mode for sequentially switching to, and displaying one of theplurality of set screens on the display each time an input isdetermined; and

wherein when the operation information discriminating means determinesthat the second operation information item is inputted during display inthe transition display mode, the setting information changing meansperforms a process for moving to an information change mode for allowingchanging of the set information corresponding to the setting screenbeing displayed on the display; and when the operation informationdiscriminating means determines that the second operation informationitem is inputted during the information change mode, the settinginformation changing means performs a process for restoring thetransition display mode from the information change mode.

According to such a configuration, the display processing in thetransition display mode for switching to, and displaying on the display,the one among the plurality of set screens each time the setting screendisplaying means determines an input is performed when the operationinformation discriminating means determines that the first operationinformation has been inputted, and the setting information changingmeans moves on to the information change mode for allowing changing ofthe set information corresponding to the setting screen already havingbeen displayed on the display when the operation informationdiscriminating means determines that the second operation informationitem has been inputted. After the set information has been changed inthe information change mode, the transition display mode is restoredwhen the operation information discriminating means determines that thesecond operation information item has been inputted.

In other words, the setting screen is switched by the input by the firstoperation information item, and the input of the second operationinformation item renders it possible to change the set informationcorresponding to the setting screen. This makes it possible to eliminatethe defect in which the set information is changed by a mistakenoperation, because when the set information is to be changed by thesetting screen, a worker consciously inputs the second operationinformation item, a move being thereby made to the information changemode, and after having changed the set information in the informationchange mode, the worker then consciously inputs the second operationinformation item.

Consequently, there is configured an information displaying device forsuppressing the defect where set information corresponding to a settingscreen displayed on a display is mistakenly changed, while permitting anoperation for switching, and displaying on a display, a single one of aplurality of set screens.

According to a preferred aspect, when the operation informationdiscriminating means determines that the first operation informationitem is inputted during the information change mode, the settinginformation changing means changes the set information corresponding tothe setting screen each time an input is determined.

With the above configuration, because the set information is changed bythe inputting of the first operation information item after a move hasbeen made to the information change mode, the set information is changedby an operation that is simpler than, for example, an operationconfiguration for inputting numerical information or characterinformation from a keyboard.

According to a preferred aspect, the work vehicle further comprises:storage means, wherein when the operation information discriminatingmeans determines that the second operation information item is inputtedduring the information change mode, the set information changed duringthe information change mode is stored into the storage means.

With the above configuration, after the second operation informationitem has been inputted, the transition display mode is restored afterthe set information having been changed is stored in the storage means,thus obviating the need for specially performing an operation forstoring the set information in the storage means.

According to a preferred aspect, the work vehicle further comprises apush switch, wherein the operation information discriminating meansdetermines if the first operation information item is inputted or notwhen a period of time of operation by the push switch is less than a setof period of time, and determines if the second operation informationitem is inputted or not when the period of time of operation by the pushswitch is the set of period of time or longer.

With the above configuration, adjusting the length of press-operationtime of the push switch makes it possible to input the first operationinformation item and the second operation information item, thusrendering it possible to input two different kinds of operationinformation without needing to provide two switches.

According to a preferred aspect, the work vehicle further comprises afirst switch and a second switch, wherein the operation informationdiscriminating means determines if the first operation information itemis inputted or not when the first switch has been operated, anddetermines if the second operation information item is inputted or notwhen the second switch has been operated.

With the above configuration, it is possible to use the two switches toseparately input the first operation information item and the secondoperation information item, thus rendering it possible to input twodifferent kinds of operation information with a simple operation.

According to a preferred aspect, the work vehicle further comprises afirst switch, a second switch and a single operational tool foroperating the first switch and the second switch, wherein the operationinformation discriminating means determines if the first operationinformation item is inputted or not when the first switch is operated bythe operational tool, and determines if the second operation informationitem is inputted or not when the second switch is operated by theoperational tool.

With the above configuration, it becomes possible to select and operatethe first switch and the second switch without bringing the hand fromthe single operational tool, and a worker can readily perform anoperation without needing to substantially move the hand whileoperating, in comparison to when the first switch and the second switchare arranged at separated positions.

In particular, the above object noted in previous section [2] isfulfilled by one aspect of a work vehicle according to the invention, asunder:—

A work vehicle, comprising:

an engine;

an authentication processing unit for permitting the engine to bestarted only when stored authentication information and authenticationinformation inputted by a manual operation are identical to each other;

storage means for pre-storing the stored authentication information; and

a first switch and a second switch for performing the manual operation,

wherein the stored authentication information is the number of operationiterations of the first switch and the number of operation iterations ofthe second switch, at least one of the number of operation iterations ofthe first switch and the number of operation iterations of the secondswitch being set to at least two, and the authentication processing unitbeing configured to acquire, as the inputted authentication information,the number of operation iterations of the first switch and the number ofoperation iterations of the second switch;

authentication information identifying means for comparing the inputtedauthentication information acquired by the authentication processingunit with the stored authentication information; and

power controlling means for allowing power to be supplied to a startermotor of the engine when the inputted authentication information isidentical to the stored authentication information at the authenticationinformation identifying means.

According to such a configuration, the number of combinations ofoperations of the two switches is increased, because the storedauthentication information is constituted of the combination of thenumber of operation iterations of the first switch and the number ofoperation iterations of the second switch, and at least one of thenumber of operation iterations of the first switch and the number ofoperation iterations of the second switch is at least twice. For thisreason, it becomes difficult for a person attempting to start up theengine in order to steal the work vehicle to perform an operationidentical to the stored authentication information, even by operatingthe two switches at random. Further, when the first switch and thesecond switch are operated only the appropriate number of iterations,the authentication information identifying means acquires the number ofoperation iterations of the first switch and the number of operationiterations of the second switch as the inputted authenticationinformation and confirms the conformity thereof with the storedauthentication information having been stored in the storage means, andthe power controlling means allows power to be supplied to the startermotor of the engine, it being thereby rendered possible to start up theengine.

With the above configuration, provided is a work vehicle in which theprecision of the authentication when the engine is to be started up isenhanced even while a small number of switches is being used, and inwhich an inappropriate start of the engine can be suppressed and theftcan be prevented.

According to a preferred aspect, the work vehicle further comprises:operation iteration number displaying means for displaying, on adisplay, the number of operation iterations of the first switch and thenumber of operation iterations of the second switch.

With the above configuration, the number of operation iterations can beaccurately understood from the display, whereby a false operation can beeliminated even in a situation where, as the stored authenticationinformation, the number of operation iterations of the first switch andthe number of operation iterations of the second switch are set so as tobe numerous.

According to a preferred aspect, the first switch and the second switchare configured to be operable by a single operational tool.

With the above configuration, when the first switch and the secondswitch are to be operated, there is no need to remove a finger from thesingle operational tool, allowing for more rapid input of theauthentication information than in a configuration for operating bybringing a finger into contact with two switches separately.

According to a preferred aspect, the work vehicle further comprises:authentication restricting means for not allowing the authenticationprocessing unit to provide authentication when the authenticationinformation identifying means determines, for a set number of times ofconsecutive iterations, that the inputted authentication information isnot identical to the stored authentication information, until a setperiod of time elapses thereafter.

With the above configuration, when it is decided at the authenticationinformation identifying means for a set number of times of consecutiveiterations that the inputted authentication information and the storedauthentication information are not identical, the authenticationrestricting means does not allow the authentication informationidentifying means to provide authentication; even when, for example, aperson attempting to steal the work vehicle has inputted authenticationinformation (the inputted authentication information) at random, sincethe number of input iterations of the authentication information(inputted authentication information) is restricted, it is rendereddifficult to input authentication information (inputted authenticationinformation) identical to the stored authentication information, thusenhancing the precision of the authentication.

Other features as well as advantageous effects arising from suchfeatures will be apparent upon reading the detailed description asunder, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-11 show a first embodiment of a work vehicle, in which:—

FIG. 1 is an overall lateral side view of a tractor illustrated as oneexample of the work vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation unit;

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a configuration of a meter panel unit;

FIG. 4 is a block circuitry diagram illustrating a controlconfiguration;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a configuration of a cruise switch;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating display processing by an informationdisplaying device;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating screens to be displayed in this sequenceon a display in a transition display mode;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a transition of the display of a powertakeoff (PTO) meter;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a transition of the display of a speedchange response setting screen;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a transition of the display of a dieselparticulate filter (DPF) setting screen; and

FIG. 11 shows a transition of the display of a speed change mode settingscreen; and

FIGS. 12-18 show a second embodiment of a work vehicle, in which:—

FIG. 12 is an overall lateral side view of a tractor illustrated as oneexample of the work vehicle;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of an operation unit;

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a configuration of a meter panel unit;

FIG. 15 is a block circuitry diagram illustrating a controlconfiguration;

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a configuration of a cruise switch;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a control mode of authenticationprocessing; and

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a display aspect of a display during theoperation of the cruise switch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

There follows a description of embodiments of the work vehicle, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which a tractor serves as anexample of the work vehicle.

First Embodiment Overall Configuration

As shown in FIG. 1, the tractor is configured to comprise a pair ofright/left front vehicle wheels 1 and a pair of right/left rear vehiclewheels 2, each acting as a travel device for a travel vehicle body A; adiesel engine 4 housed within an engine hood 3 of a front part of thetravel vehicle body A; an operation seat 6 arranged at a middle positionbetween right and left rear wheel fenders 5 for constituting anoperation unit; and a cabin B for surrounding the operation unit.

In the tractor, a clutch housing 7, a hydrostatic stepless speed changedevice (HST) 8 and a transmission case 9 are connected one after anotherin the stated sequence toward a rear side of the engine 4. Thetransmission case 9 is arranged under the operation seat 6. Thesecomponents form a transmission system for transmitting drive force fromthe transmission case 9 to the right/left front vehicle wheels 1 and theright/left rear vehicle wheels 2, to thereby form a four-wheel-driventype tractor.

A rear PTO shaft 11 is provided at a rear end of the transmission case9. A mid PTO shaft 12 is provided on a bottom of the transmission case9. A hydraulic lift cylinder 13 is provided at an upper position of thetransmission case 9. A pair of right/left lift arms 14 are provided at arear end of the transmission case 9 to be vertically pivotal by the liftcylinder 13. Though not depicted in the drawings, the tractor isconfigured such that a rotary tiller device, a plow or other groundworking implement may be connected to the rear end of the travel vehiclebody A via a three-point link mechanism, whereby the ground workingimplement can be vertically moved by the lift cylinder 13.

When a rotary tiller device is connected, tilling work is performed bydriving rotary claws of the rotary tiller device which claws are drivenunder the drive force from the rear PTO shaft 11. When a lawn-mowingdevice or other mid-mount ground working implement is connected to amiddle position between the front vehicle wheels 1 and the rear vehiclewheels 2, the ground work by the ground working implement is performedunder the drive force from the mid PTO shaft 12.

(Operation Unit)

The cabin B has a typical structure including: a roof on an upper partthereof; a front glass on a front part thereof; doors formed oftransparent glass or transparent resin on the right/left sides thereofto be openable and closable; and a rear glass on a rear part thereof. Asshown in FIG. 2, a steering wheel 21 is arranged at a front position ofthe operation seat 6 within the cabin B for performing a steeringoperation. A clutch pedal 22 is arranged on the left side of a lowerposition of the steering wheel 21. Two brake pedals 23 are arranged onthe right side, as well as a speed change pedal 24. A forward/reverseswitching lever 25 and a forcible lift lever 26 are provided in thevicinity of the steering wheel 21, the forward/reverse switching lever25 performing selection between the forward travel and the reversetravel of the travel vehicle body A, and the forcible lift lever 26performing selection of states of the ground working implement, which isconnected to the rear end of the travel vehicle body A, between alowered working level and a raised set level.

A main speed change lever 27, an auxiliary speed change lever 28, and acruise switch CS are arranged on a left side of the operation seat 6. Aposition control lever 30 for setting a swing angle each of the liftarms 14 relative to the vehicle body; a PTO switch 31 for selecting thedrive between the rear PTO shaft 11 and the mid PTO shaft 12; and aplurality of operation switches 32 are arranged on a right side of theoperation seat 6.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cruise switch CS is configured such that asingle operational tool 45 can be used for a manual operation each ofthe first switch 46 and the second switch 47. The operational tool 45 issupported to be pivotable around an axis X. The operational tool 45 issupported to be swingable in a seesaw manner so as to maintain a neutralposture in non-operational state, to swing to one side when one end part(toward the first switch 46) is operated and to swing to the other sidewhen another end part (toward the second switch 47) is operated. A firstoperation body 46A, which is urged so as to protrude, is provided to thefirst switch 46, and a second operation body 47A, which is urged so asto protrude, is provided to the second switch 47; the first operationbody 46A and the second operation body 47A come into contact with a rearsurface side of the operational tool 45, and the operational tool 45 isthereby maintained at the neutral posture. A spring for urging theoperational tool 45 to a neutral position may also be provided.

The cruise switch CS is configured such that a light (shallow) operationof each of the end parts brings a first-stage switch part of either thefirst switch 46 or the second switch 47 into an ON state, and a strong(deep) operation brings a second-stage switch part into an ON state.Such a configuration makes it possible to operate the first-stage switchpart and second-stage switch part of the first switch 46 to be on byadjusting the force of the press-operation on one end part of theoperational tool 45, and possible to operate the first-stage switch partand second-stage switch part of the second switch 47 to be on byadjusting the force of the press-operation on the other end part of theoperational tool 45.

Although the control configuration is not depicted in the drawings, thestepless speed change device 8 includes a speed change actuator forrotating a speed change operation shaft of the stepless speed changedevice 8, and a speed change amount sensor for measuring the amount ofthe rotation operation of the speed change operation shaft. A cruisecontrol unit 59 (e.g. a speed change ECU) shown in FIG. 4 is configuredsuch that a signal from the speed change amount sensor is fed back andan actuator is controlled. The cruise control unit 59 has an outputsystem for controlling the aforesaid speed change actuator, the signalof the speed change amount sensor is fed back, and a signal from thefirst switch 46, a signal from the second switch 47 and a control signalfrom an information displaying device 50 are inputted.

When the travel vehicle body A is made to travel, a control mode is setsuch that a strong (deep) operation of the end part of the operationaltool 45 of the cruise switch CS, the end side being marked “UP,” movesto a cruise control, and such that a strong (deep) operation of an endside of the operational tool 45 marked “DOWN” stops the cruise control.When the move to cruise control is first made, travel is performed at apre-set cruise speed (a speed corresponding to a set cruise value storedin storage means 51 shown in FIG. 4), and a control mode of a cruisecontrol device is set such that, during the cruise control, a light(shallow) operation of the end side of the operational tool 45 marked“UP” boosts the cruise speed only by a set value at each operation, anda light (shallow) operation of the end side of the operational tool 45marked “DOWN” lowers the cruise speed only by a set value at eachoperation.

As shown in FIG. 3, a meter panel MP is arranged at a front position ofthe steering wheel 21; on the meter panel MP, an engine rotation ratemeter 33 is arranged on the left side, a cooling water temperature meter34 and a remaining fuel amount meter 35 are arranged on the right side,a liquid crystal display 36 for displaying information is arranged inthe middle, and an information announcing unit 37 for announcing thesituations of various different machines by lighting a lamp is formedbelow the display 36.

A hazard switch 38, a lamp switch 39 for lighting headlights and thelike, and a push-switch style display switching switch 40 are arrangedto the left side below the meter panel MP; and a key switch 41 isarranged to the right side below the meter panel MP. The key switch 41has a typical configuration of being rotated to reach an ON position andsupply power to an electrical system, and reach a start position withfurther rotation thereof.

As shown in FIG. 7 the display 36 has a basic information display region36A formed at an upper part, and a set information display region 36Bformed at a lower part. Speed change information indicative of thesetting position of the main speed change lever 27 and the travel speedof the travel vehicle body A are displayed in the basic informationdisplay region 36A, and set information is displayed in the setinformation display region 36B. The set information includes a unit ofinformation displayed on the display 36 or alternatively, a parameter ofthe speed change control or the like. When the aforesaid displayswitching switch 40 is briefly pressed (for example, pressed only for aperiod of time less than five seconds), the display (the display of aplurality of screens shown in FIG. 7) is performed in a transitiondisplay mode such that set screens corresponding to a plurality of setinformation items are displayed in sequence on the set informationdisplay region 36B of the display 36 at each brief press. When thedisplay switching switch 40 is pressed for a long time (for example, aperiod of time of at least five seconds) in the transition display mode,then a move is made to an information change mode, allowing changing ofthe set information. A description of the control mode for changing theset information will be made later.

(Information Displaying Device)

FIG. 4 shows the main points of a configuration of the informationdisplaying device 50 for displaying information on the display 36. Theinformation displaying device 50 has a control system having amicroprocessor or the like. The control system includes storage means 51comprising electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)or other non-volatile memory. The control system further includes atimer 52 also functioning as a calendar; operation informationdiscriminating means 53; setting screen displaying means 54; settinginformation changing means 55; and setting screen generating means 56. Asetting information processing unit P is constituted by the settingscreen display means 54 and the setting information changing means 55.The information displaying device 50 acquires information of the displayswitching switch 40, outputs display information to the display 36,acquires information via an information acquisition system S, andoutputs a control signal to a diesel particulate filter (DPF) controlunit 57, a speed change control unit 58 and the cruise control unit 59.

Incidentally, the operation information discriminating means 53, thesetting screen displaying means 54, the setting information changingmeans 55 and the setting screen generating means 56 as described aboveare assumed to be constituted of software. However, these may beconstituted of hardware alone or may be constituted of a combination ofhardware and software.

The storage means 51 stores a plurality of information items, including:trip value information; fuel consumption unit information; informationon the oil change data when the engine oil was changed; PTO displaysubject information for setting which to be displayed between the rearPTO shaft 11 and the mid PTO shaft 12; speed change response informationfor determining the amount of control of the stepless speed changedevice 8 relative to the amount of depression on the speed change pedal24; DPF setting information about a particulate matter (PM) removaldevice diesel particulate filter (DPF, not shown) for removingparticulate matter contained in the exhaust gas of the engine 4; speedchange mode information for setting the speed change state of thestepless speed change device 8; speed change pedal display informationfor determining whether or not to display the operated amount of thespeed change pedal 24; cruise setting information during the cruisecontrol; and setting information.

The operation information discriminating means 53 decides thepress-operation time length when the display switching switch 40 ispress-operated. Specifically, a decision is made as to whether a pressis brief (e.g., less than five seconds; an example of a first operationinformation item) or a press is long (e.g., at least five seconds; anexample of a second operation information item), and then sent to thesetting information processing unit P. Description of the displayprocessing in the setting screen displaying means 54 and in the settinginformation changing means 55 will be made later.

The setting screen generating means 56 generates a setting screen (ascreen image) to be displayed on the display 36 by the setting screendisplaying means 54. In the setting screen generating means 56, an hourmeter, a trip meter, a fuel consumption meter, an oil meter, a PTOmeter, a speed change response setting screen, a DPF setting screen, aspeed change mode setting screen, a speed change pedal setting screen, acruise setting screen, and a setting screen are displayed as the setscreens (see also each of the screen examples in FIG. 7 (a) through FIG.7 (k), which will be described later).

The information acquisition system S is a general term for sensors foracquiring information and sending the same to the information displayingdevice 50. The drawings do not illustrate a specific configurationthereof, but the information acquisition system S acquires informationof: a speed sensor for acquiring the travel speed of the travel vehiclebody A; a travel distance sensor for acquiring the travel distance ofthe travel vehicle body A; a speed change position sensor for acquiringthe setting position(s) of the main speed change lever 27 and otherelements; a PTO rotation sensor for separately acquiring the rotationalspeeds of the rear PTO shaft 11 and the mid PTO shaft 12; a remainingfuel amount sensor for measuring the remaining amount of fuel in a fueltank (not shown); a speed change pedal sensor for measuring thedepressed amount of the speed change pedal 24; and a speed change amountsensor for measuring the operated amount the speed change shaft of thestepless speed change device 8.

The DPF control unit 57 acquires the amount of particulate matterremaining in the PM removal device (not shown) and sends the same to theinformation displaying device 50, and a control signal from theinformation displaying device 50 causes cleaning to be performed.

The speed change control unit 58 rotates the speed change shaft of thestepless speed change device 8 based on the speed change responseinformation when the speed change pedal 24 is depressed, and sets aswash plate angle of the stepless speed change device 8 based on theinformation set in the speed change mode information. A speed changemotor (not shown) for rotating the speed change shaft is provided inorder to execute such control, and control is performed by a feedbacksignal from the aforesaid speed change amount sensor.

The cruise control unit 59 sets a speed change target by the steplessspeed change device 8 to a set cruise value stored in the storage means51 when control in the cruise mode is executed by the cruise switch CS.In the cruise control, the speed change motor is moved while the signalof the speed change amount sensor is fed back thereto, to thereby obtaina target cruise speed. As described above, the cruise switch CS can beoperated during travel with cruise control and the cruise speed canthereby be adjusted, but the set cruise value stored in the storagemeans 51 is not changed.

(Control Mode)

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the main points of the control modeof the information device 50, and FIG. 7 shows the screens displayed insequence on the display 36 in the transition mode during the control.

In other words, when the key switch 41 to the ON position and power issupplied to the electrical system of the travel vehicle body A toinitiate the information displaying device 50, an initial setting screenshown in FIG. 7( a) is displayed on the display 36 (step #01), andcontrol in the transition display mode is executed (step #02). When thedisplay switching switch 40 is briefly pressed in the transition displaymode (step #03), the displayed setting screen is switched each time abrief press is performed (step #04), whereby the set screens illustratedin FIGS. 7( a) through 7(k) are displayed in the illustrated sequence.

When the display switching switch 40 is pressed for a long time while asetting screen is displayed in the transition display mode (step #05),if the setting screen displayed on the display 36 is for confirming“executed processing”, the control goes to a run routine and thereafterthe transition display mode is restored (steps #06, #07). If the settingscreen is for performing “simple switch processing”, the set informationis switched over accordingly and thereafter this set information isstored in the storage means 51 (steps #08 to #010). If no executedprocessing is performed and there is no simple switch processing, thecontrol goes to the information change mode (step #011). When thedisplay switching switch 40 is briefly pressed in the information changemode (step #12), the set information corresponding to the setting screendisplayed on the display 36 is changed (step #013). When the displayswitching switch 40 is pressed for a long time in the information changemode (step #014), on the other hand, the set information is stored inthe storage means 51 (step #010), and the transition display mode isrestored.

The set information and the like displayed on the display 36, during theprocessing as described above with reference to the flowchart, will bedescribed next in more specific.

In the transition display mode, the setting screen displaying means 54generates the set screens as illustrated in FIG. 7( a) through FIG. 7(k) and displays the same on the display 36 each time the displayswitching switch 40 is pressed briefly. To display the set screens inthe stated sequence, the setting screen generating means 56 assigns aserial number or the like to the set screens as illustrated in FIG. 7(a) through FIG. 7( k); incrementally counts a display count value eachtime the display switching switch 40 is pressed briefly; and performs aprocess for identifying a setting screen of a serial numbercorresponding to the display count value and displaying the same on thedisplay 36, along with other processing.

FIG. 7( a) shows the hour meter, acting as the initial setting screen,being displayed on the set information display region 36B. The hourmeter displays an integrated value of the work time of the controlsystem, and the numeric value of the hour meter is set so as not to becleared even when the display switching switch 40 is pressed for a longtime. Alternatively, the integrated value of the hour meter may beconfigured to be cleared by a long press of the display switching switch40.

FIG. 7( b) shows the trip meter, acting as a setting screen, beingdisplayed on the set information display region 36B. Pressing thedisplay switching switch 40 for a long time while the trip meter isdisplayed clears the numeric value of the trip meter (the integratedtime), and also clears a trip value in the storage means 51. FIG. 7( c)shows the fuel consumption meter, acting as a setting screen, beingdisplayed on the set information display region 36B. Pressing thedisplay switching switch 40 for a long time while the fuel consumptionmeter is displayed sets the unit of the fuel consumption meter to eitherone of “miles/gallon” or “hours/gallon,” and switches over the fuelconsumption unit in the storage means 51 accordingly. FIG. 7( d) showsthe oil meter being displayed on the set information display region 36B.Pressing the display switching switch 40 for a long time while the oilmeter is displayed clears the numeric value of the oil meter (theintegrated time), and also clears the trip value in the storage means51.

As described above, the set information corresponding to the set screensin FIG. 7 (b), FIG. 7 (c) and FIG. 7 (d) is information pertaining to abinary selection, such as one whether or not the information to becleared, and therefore pressing the display switching switch 40 for along time directly switches over the set information, which is thenstored in the storage means 51. The mode then moves to the transitiondisplay mode, and thus the transition display mode is apparentlymaintained. Such processing corresponds to the processing during theaforesaid steps #08 through to #010 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7( e) shows the PTO meter, acting as a setting screen, beingdisplayed on the set information display region 36B, where the PTO meterdisplays the rotational speed of selected one of the rear PTO shaft 11and the mid PTO shaft 12.

As shown in FIG. 8, pressing the display switching switch 40 for a longtime while the PTO meter is displayed moves the control to theinformation change mode. In the information change mode, brieflypressing the display switching switch 40 displays, in solid black, oneof an ON button for selecting the rear PTO shaft 11 to be displayed onthe PTO meter and an OFF button for not selecting the rear PTO shaft 11to be displayed (thus selecting the mid PTO shaft 12), whereby it ispossible to visually confirm the selected state. Pressing the displayswitching switch 40 for a long time after the selection confirms theselected state, updates the PTO information to be displayed in thestorage means 51, and returns to the previous transition display mode.

FIG. 7( f) shows the speed change response setting screen, acting as asetting screen, being displayed on the set information display region36B, where the speed change response setting screen displays the settingstate of a reaction speed of the stepless speed change device 8 when thespeed change pedal 24 is depressed. The response setting screen displaysa solid white bar graph of a plurality of setting indices 36Pillustrating a gradation of response speeds, and displays one settingindex 36P in solid black for indicating the current setting positionfrom among the plurality of setting indices 36P.

As shown in FIG. 9, pressing the display switching switch 40 for a longtime while the speed change response setting screen is displayed movesthe control to the information change mode. Briefly pressing the displayswitching switch 40 in the information change mode sequentially moves,in one direction (which in the drawing is rightward), the setting index36P displayed in solid black within the plurality of setting indices36P, it being thus possible to visually confirm the selected state. Whenthe display switching switch 40 is briefly pressed when the settingindex 36P displayed in solid black arrives at one end, then settingindex 36P at the other end of the plurality of setting indices 36P issubsequently displayed in solid black, following which the setting index36P being displayed in solid black moves sequentially in one direction,similarly with respect to the prior description, each time the displayswitching switch 40 is briefly pressed.

In particular, as a process for causing the setting index 36P displayedin solid black to move within the plurality of setting indices 36P,continuously incrementing or decrementing (i.e. concatenating) numericvalues are assigned to the plurality of setting indices 36P such that acount value will be incremented or decremented each time the displayswitching switch 40 is briefly pressed, to thereby add/subtract to/fromthe count value and then display in solid black at the positioncorresponding to the count value. When the count value reaches a valuegreater than the number of the setting indices 36P during theprocessing, an initial value is assigned to the count value, wherebysolid black is displayed at one end of the plurality of setting indices36P, it being then possible to use a brief press of the displayswitching switch 40 to move. Pressing the display switching switch 40for a long time when the setting is completed confirms the selectedstate, and accordingly updates the speed change response information inthe storage means 51, and the processing restores the originaltransition display mode.

Pressing the display switching switch 40 for a long time when the setscreen in FIG. 7 (e) or FIG. 7 (f) is displayed moves the control to theinformation change mode. In the information change mode, brieflypressing the display switching switch 40 executes processing forchanging the set information. Such processing allows for fine-tunedsetting changes. The processing as described above corresponds to theaforesaid steps #011 through #014 and #010 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 (g) shows DPF setting screen, acting as a setting screen, beingdisplayed on the set information display region 36B, where the DPFsetting screen displays the amount of particulate matter remaining inthe PM removal device (not shown). The DPF setting screen displays asolid white bar graph of a remaining amount index 36R indicative of theamount of particular matter, and displays, in solid black, a remainingamount index indicative of the current remaining amount from among theplurality of remaining amount indices 36R, and a percentage indicativeof the remaining amount is displayed by a numeric value. An operatorjudges whether or not there is need to clean the particular matterremaining in the PM removal device, based on the display of the DPFsetting screen.

As shown in FIG. 10, pressing the display switching switch 40 for a longtime while the DPF setting screen is displayed moves the control to theinformation change mode, and also causes the display 36 to display aconfirmation screen. In the confirmation screen, a “Yes” button forexecuting the cleaning is selected (displayed in solid black) in theinitial state. Briefly pressing the display switching switch 40 in thisdisplay state switches over the screen to a restoration confirmationscreen in which the “No” button for not executing the cleaning isselected (displayed in solid black). And, pressing the display switchingswitch 40 for a long time while the “No” button is selected in therestoration confirmation screen restores the original transition displaymode, without performing any removal of the particulate matter remainingin the PM removal device.

Pressing the display switching switch 40 for a long time while the “Yes”button is selected in the confirmation screen causes a warning screen tobe displayed for warning that the exhaust gas temperature is elevated.In the warning screen, the “OK” button is selected (displayed in solidblack) in the initial state. Briefly pressing the display switchingswitch 40 in this display switches to a non-execution confirmationscreen in which the “No” button for not executing the cleaning isselected (switches to a solid black display thereof). Pressing thedisplay switching switch 40 for a long time while the “No” button isselected (displayed in solid black) in the non-execution confirmationscreen restores the original transition display mode, without performingany removal of the particulate matter remaining in the PM removaldevice.

Pressing the display switching switch 40 for a long time while the OKbutton is selected (displayed in solid black) in the warning screencauses the execution screen to be displayed and starts the cleaning. Inthe execution screen, a bar graph, displayed in solid white in theinitial state, of a plurality of processing indices 36S indicative ofthe execution situation of the cleaning is displayed and, as thecleaning progresses, the plurality of processing indices 36S is switchedsequentially to be displayed in solid black (the solid black displayincreases), and a numeric value indicative of the percentage ofprocessing also increases. Whereby, the particulate matter remaining inthe PM removal device is removed, and an execution screen/completion isdisplayed when the removal is completed. Pressing the display switchingswitch 40 for a long time after the cleaning is thus completed restoresthe original setting screen.

In contrast, when the cleaning is executed (when the execution screen isbeing displayed), briefly pressing the display switching switch 40interrupts the execution of the cleaning midway, and the aforesaidrestoration confirmation screen is displayed. In the restorationconfirmation screen, the “No” button is in a selected state (displayedin solid black), and pressing the display switching switch 40 for a longtime restores the original transition display mode, while the removal ofthe particulate matter remaining in the PM removal device remainsinterrupted. Such processing corresponds to steps #06 and #07 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 (h) shows the speed change mode setting screen, acting as asetting screen, being displayed on the set information display region36B. As shown in FIG. 11, pressing the display switching switch 40 for along time while the speed change mode setting screen is displayed movesthe control to the information change mode, and causes the display 36 todisplay the mode setting screen. The mode setting screen displays an ONbutton and an OFF button of a stall guard, and also displays an ONbutton and an OFF button of an automatic control. In the mode settingscreen, one of the ON button or the OFF button of the stall guard isselected (displayed in solid black) and one of the ON button or the OFFbutton of the automatic control is selected (displayed in solid black).Briefly pressing the display switching switch 40 while the mode settingscreen is displayed, one of the three modes as shown in FIG. 11 isselected with a combination of the respective ON buttons and therespective OFF buttons. Pressing the display switching switch 40 for along time after such a selection confirms the selected state (the setstate), updates the speed change mode in the storage means 51accordingly, and restores the original transition display mode. Suchprocessing corresponds to the aforesaid steps #011 through #014 and #010in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 (i) shows the speed change pedal operation screen, acting as asetting screen, being displayed on the set information display region36B, where the speed change pedal operation screen displays a graph ofthe depression operation amount of the speed change pedal 24 such thatthe depression operation amount can be visually confirmed. Pressing thedisplay switching switch 40 for a long time while the speed change pedaloperation screen is displayed allows for a setting to select whether theoperation amount of the speed change pedal is to be displayed or not;and accordingly updates the speed change pedal display information inthe storage means 51. In other words, even when the speed change pedaloperation screen is displayed in the transition display mode, a settingis made so as not to display the depressed amount of the speed changepedal 24. Such processing corresponds to the aforesaid steps #08 to #010in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 (j) shows the cruise setting screen being displayed on the setinformation display region 36B, where the cruise setting screen displaysa solid white bar graph of a plurality of setting indices illustrating agradation of setting values, and displays, in solid black, one of theplurality of setting indices indicative of the current setting position.In other words, a speed change value (travel speed) of the steplessspeed change device 8, when the cruise control is executed by anoperation of the cruise switch CS, is displayed. In particular, when thecruise control is first executed, the cruise control unit 59 executestravel at a speed which is displayed in solid black on the cruisesetting screen even when the speed change pedal 24 is not beingdepressed, and as described above, a light (shallow) operation of oneend side of the operational tool 45 marked “UP” causes, with eachoperation, the cruise speed to be elevated by a set value, and causesthe solid black display position of the setting index to move toward theacceleration side by one grade. Conversely, a light (shallow) operationof the other end side of the operational tool 45 marked “DOWN” causes,with each operation, the cruise speed to be lowered by a set value, andcauses the solid black display position of the setting index to movetoward the deceleration side by one grade.

Pressing the display switching switch 40 while the cruise setting screenis displayed moves the control to the information change mode. In theinformation change mode, briefly pressing the display switching switch40 sequentially moves, in one direction, the setting position displayedin solid black within a plurality of setting positions, similarly to theaforesaid control of the speed change response setting screen (see FIG.9), it being thus possible to visually confirm the set state. And,briefly pressing the display switching switch 40, when the settingposition displayed in solid black arrives at one end in the onedirection, the solid black setting position is subsequently displayed atthe other end. Thereafter, the solid black setting position movessequentially in the one direction each time the display switching switch40 is briefly pressed, similarly to the previous description.

In particular, as processing for causing the setting position displayedin solid black to move within the plurality of setting indices,continuously incrementing or decrementing (i.e. concatenating) numericvalues are assigned to the plurality of setting indices such that acount value will be incremented or decremented each time the displayswitching switch 40 is briefly pressed, to thereby add/subtract to/fromthe count value and display a solid black setting position at a positioncorresponding to the count value. When the count value reaches a valuegreater than the number of the setting indices during the processing, aninitial value is assigned to the count value, whereby a solid blacksetting position is displayed at one end part of the plurality ofsetting indices, it being then possible to use a brief press of thedisplay switching switch 40 to move. Pressing the display switchingswitch 40 for a long time when the setting operation is completedconfirms the selected setting state, and accordingly updates the setcruise value in the storage means 51, and restores the originaltransition display mode. Such processing corresponds to the aforesaidsteps #011 through #014 and #010 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 (k) shows the setting screen, acting as a setting screen, beingdisplayed on the set information display region 36B, where pressing thedisplay switching switch 40 for a long time while the setting screen isdisplayed moves the control to the information change mode. In theinformation change mode, it is possible to select set screens (notshown) corresponding to a plurality of setting targets. Briefly pressingthe display switching switch 40 while a setting screen is selectedchanges the set information. Pressing the display switching switch 40for a long time confirms the set information, which is then stored inthe storage means 51 as setting information.

Although not illustrated by the flowchart in FIG. 6, if the displayswitching switch 40 is not pressed briefly or for a long time over a setperiod of time after the control moves to the information change modeafter displaying one of the PTO meter, the speed change response settingscreen, the DPF setting screen, the speed change mode setting screen andthe cruise setting screen (that is, if a non-operation state lastslonger than a set period of time), then the transition display mode isrestored without storing any set information into the storage means 51.In such processing, if the power source is cut off before the displayswitching switch 40 is pressed for a long time, then the set informationis not stored into the storage means 51 even after the mode has moved tothe information change mode and the set information has been changed,and in this case, the set information retains the value prior to themove to the information change mode.

Functions and Effects of the First Embodiment

As describe above, the set screen displayed on the display 36 isinitially displayed in the transition display mode, and the subsequentbriefly pressing the display switching switch 40 switches the settingscreen in a set sequence.

When the display switching switch 40 is pressed for a long time with anyone of the fuel consumption meter, the oil meter or the speed changepedal setting screen being displayed from among the plurality of setscreens, the setting information changing means 55 performs switching(including clearing) of the set information corresponding to the settingscreen, and the switched set information is stored in the storage means51. During such processing, since the set information comprises binaryselection information such as an ON/OFF state and clearanceallowance/prohibition (e.g. information indicated in one bit), the setinformation is changed while retaining the transition display mode,without moving to the information change mode, which is accordinglystored into storage means 51.

On the other hand, when the display switching switch 40 is pressed for along time with any one of the PTO meter, the speed change responsesetting screen, the speed change mode setting screen and the cruisesetting screen is being displayed from among the plurality of setscreens, the processing moves to the information change mode. Then, thesetting information changing means 55 performs changing of the settinginformation corresponding to the setting screen each time the displayswitching switch 40 is briefly pressed. Thereafter, the changed setinformation is stored into the setting information changing means 55 bypressing the display switching switch 40 for a long time, and thetransition display mode is restored.

During the display of one of the PTO meter, the speed change responsesetting screen, the speed change mode setting screen and the cruisesetting screen is to be displayed, since the set information isindicative of one of three or more states (e.g. information indicated ina plurality of bits), pressing the display switching switch 40 for along time moves the control to the information change mode; and brieflypressing the display switching switch 40 in the information change modechanges the set information. Further, pressing the display switchingswitch 40 for a long time after such change stores the set informationinto the storage means 51 and restores the transition display mode.

Incidentally, when the display switching switch 40 is pressed for a longtime while the DPF setting screen is being displayed, the control movesto the information change mode, but pressing the display switchingswitch 40 for a long time in this information change mode merelyexecutes the cleaning, and the set information is not changed.

As described above, in the present invention, not only changing in theoperation time of the single display switching switch 40 allowsselection between the transition display mode and the information changemode without the need to provide two switches, but also, when the setinformation is changed in the information change mode too, the setinformation can be stored in the storage means 51 and the transitiondisplay mode can be restored by the display switching switch 40, thuschanging the set information with a simple configuration in a simpleoperational state.

Modifications of the First Embodiment

As described above, the present invention has its utility to a setinformation displaying device for selecting and displaying one of aplurality of set screens on a display of a work vehicle, and forchanging the set information from the displayed setting screen.

However, this is not limitative and may also be configured as follows:

(a) A first switch for inputting a first operation information item anda second switch for inputting a second operation information item areprovided. The first switch and the second switch may be of thepush-button type; the operation information discriminating means 53determines that the first operation information item has been inputtedwhen the first switch has been operated, and determines that the secondoperation information item has been inputted when the second switch hasbeen operated. In this manner, providing the two switches makes itpossible to input the first operation information item and the secondoperation information item with a simple operation.(b) A first switch for inputting a first operation information item, thefirst switch being operated by a single operational tool, and a secondswitch for inputting a second operation information item are provided.The operational tool may be a lever type tool which maintains a neutralposture in a non-operational state, or may be a tool which is swung in aseesaw manner. Specifically, as with the cruise switch CS, a singleoperational tool 45 includes a first switch 46 and a second switch 47.In such a configuration, when the operational tool 45 is in the neutralposture, the first switch 46 and the second switch 47 are maintained inthe non-operational state (the OFF state), and operating one end part ofthe operational tool 45 turns the first switch 46 ON and inputs thefirst operation information item, while operating the other end partturns the second switch 47 ON and inputs the second operationinformation item.

In this manner, the first switch 46 and the second switch 47 can beoperated by the single operational tool 45, the operation being easierthan a configuration for operating two switches that are positionedapart, and two types of operation information items can be inputted.

(c) In operation of the setting information changing means 55, anydesired display aspect for the information on the display 36 in theinformation change mode can be set. For example, when determination ismade that the second operation information item has been inputted, ascreen for setting is displayed anew on the display 36 (the window isopened anew), it being then possible to change the set information inthe screen for setting.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of a work vehicle will be described next, withreference to FIGS. 12 to 18. In this embodiment as well, descriptionwill be made with reference to a tractor as an example of the workvehicle.

(Overall Configuration)

As shown in FIG. 12, the tractor is configured to comprise a pair ofright/left front vehicle wheels 101 and a pair of right/left rearvehicle wheels 102, each acting as a travel device for a travel vehiclebody A; a diesel engine 104 housed within an engine hood 103 of a frontpart of the travel vehicle body A; an operation seat 106 arranged at amiddle position between right and left rear wheel fenders 105 forconstituting an operation unit; and a cabin B for surrounding theoperation unit.

In the tractor, a clutch housing 107, a hydrostatic stepless speedchange device (HST) 108 and a transmission case 109 are connected oneafter another in the stated sequence toward a rear side of the engine104. The transmission case 109 is arranged under the operation seat 106.These components form a transmission system for transmitting drive forcefrom the transmission case 109 to the right/left front vehicle wheels101 and the right/left rear vehicle wheels 102, to thereby form afour-wheel-driven type tractor.

A rear PTO shaft 111 is provided at a rear end of the transmission case109. A mid PTO shaft 112 is provided on a bottom of the transmissioncase 109. A hydraulic lift cylinder 113 is provided at an upper positionof the transmission case 109. A pair of right/left lift arms 114 areprovided at a rear end of the transmission case 109 to be verticallypivotal by the lift cylinder 113. Though not depicted in the drawings,the tractor is configured such that a rotary tiller device, a plow orother ground working implement may be connected to the rear end of thetravel vehicle body A via a three-point link mechanism, whereby theground working implement can be vertically moved by the lift cylinder113.

When a rotary tiller device is connected, tilling work is performed bydriving rotary claws of the rotary tiller device which claws are drivenunder the drive force from the rear PTO shaft 111. When a lawn-mowingdevice or other mid-mount ground working implement is connected to amiddle position between the front vehicle wheels 101 and the rearvehicle wheels 102, the ground work by the ground working implement isperformed under the drive force from the mid PTO shaft 112.

(Operation Unit)

The cabin B has a typical structure including: a roof on an upper partthereof; a front glass on a front part thereof; doors formed oftransparent glass or transparent resin on the right/left sides thereofto be openable and closable; and a rear glass on a rear part thereof. Asshown in FIG. 13, a steering wheel 121 is arranged at a front positionof the operation seat 106 within the cabin B for performing a steeringoperation. A clutch pedal 122 is arranged on the left side of a lowerposition of the steering wheel 121. Two brake pedals 123 are arranged onthe right side, as well as a speed change pedal 124. A forward/reverseswitching lever 125 and a forcible lift lever 126 are provided in thevicinity of the steering wheel 121, the forward/reverse switching lever125 performing selection between the forward travel and the reversetravel of the travel vehicle body A, and the forcible lift lever 126performing selection of states of the ground working implement, which isconnected to the rear end of the travel vehicle body A, between alowered working level and a raised set level.

A main speed change lever 127, an auxiliary speed change lever 128, anda cruise switch CS are arranged on a left side of the operation seat106. A position control lever 130 for setting a swing angle each of thelift arms 114 relative to the vehicle body; a PTO switch 131 forselecting the drive between the rear PTO shaft 111 and the mid PTO shaft112; and a plurality of operation switches 132 are arranged on a rightside of the operation seat 106.

As shown in FIG. 16, the cruise switch CS is configured such that asingle operational tool 145 can be used for a manual operation each ofthe first switch 146 and the second switch 147. The operational tool 145is supported to be pivotable around an axis X. The operational tool 145is supported to be swingable in a seesaw manner so as to maintain aneutral posture in non-operational state, to swing to one side when oneend part (toward the first switch 146) is operated and to swing to theother side when another end part (toward the second switch 147) isoperated. A first operation body 146A, which is urged so as to protrude,is provided to the first switch 146, and a second operation body 147A,which is urged so as to protrude, is provided to the second switch 147;the first operation body 146A and the second operation body 147A comeinto contact with a rear surface side of the operational tool 145, andthe operational tool 145 is thereby maintained at the neutral posture. Aspring for urging the operational tool 145 to a neutral position mayalso be provided.

The cruise switch CS is configured such that a light (shallow) operationof each of the end parts brings a first-stage switch part of either thefirst switch 146 or the second switch 147 into an ON state, and a strong(deep) operation brings a second-stage switch part into an ON state.Such a configuration makes it possible to operate the first-stage switchpart and second-stage switch part of the first switch 146 to be on byadjusting the force of the press-operation on one end part of theoperational tool 145, and possible to operate the first-stage switchpart and second-stage switch part of the second switch 147 to be on byadjusting the force of the press-operation on the other end part of theoperational tool 145.

Although the control configuration is not depicted in the drawings, thestepless speed change device 108 includes an actuator for rotating aspeed change operation shaft of the stepless speed change device 108,and a speed change amount sensor for measuring the amount of therotation of the speed change operation shaft. A cruise control device(e.g. a speed change ECU) is configured such that the actuator iscontrolled with a signal from the speed change amount sensor being fedback thereto. A signal from the first switch 146 and a signal from thesecond switch 147 are inputted to the cruise control device.

When the travel vehicle body A travels, a control mode is set such thata strong (deep) operation of one end part, marked “UP”, of theoperational tool 145 of the cruise switch CS as shown in FIG. 18transits to a cruise control, and such that a strong (deep) operation ofthe other end part, marked “DOWN”, of the operational tool 145 stops thecruise control. When the transition to the cruise control is first made,travel is performed at a pre-set cruise speed, and a control mode of acruise control device is set such that, during the cruise control, alight (shallow) operation of the end side of the operational tool 145marked “UP” boosts the cruise speed by a set value at each operation,and a light (shallow) operation of the end side of the operational tool145 marked “DOWN” lowers the cruise speed by a set value at eachoperation.

As shown in FIG. 14, a meter panel MP is arranged at a front position ofthe steering wheel 121; on the meter panel MP, an engine rotation ratemeter 133 is arranged on the left side, a cooling water temperaturemeter 134 and a remaining fuel amount meter 135 are arranged on theright side, a liquid crystal display 136 for displaying information isarranged in the middle, and an information announcing unit 137 forannouncing the situations of various different machines by lighting alamp is formed below the display 136.

A hazard switch 138, a lamp switch 139 for lighting headlights and thelike, and a push-switch style display switching switch 140 are arrangedto the left side below the meter panel MP; and a key switch 141 isarranged to the right side below the meter panel MP. The key switch 141has a typical configuration of being rotated to reach an ON position andsupply power to an electrical system, and reach a start position withfurther rotation thereof.

The display 136 displays the travelling speed of the travel vehicle bodyA and the speed change stage of the main speed change lever 127. Thedisplay 136 is configured such that an operation of the displayswitching switch 140 switches over the screen to display such as thefuel consumption, the rotation rates of the rear/mid PTO shaft 111 or112. In particular, this tractor has a theft prevention functionauthentication when the engine 104 is started up; and the cruise switchCS functions also as a device for inputting the authenticationinformation.

(Authentication Control Device)

As shown in FIG. 15, an authentication processing device 150 acts as anauthentication processing unit for receiving a signal inputted from eachof the key switch 141, the first switch 146 and the second switch 147,and outputting a control signal to the display 136 and to a powercontrol unit 148 acting as power controlling means. The authenticationprocessing device 150 has a microprocessor or other processing system;and includes: an EEPROM or other non-volatile memory (an example of thestorage means) 151; counting means 153; display controlling means 154;authentication information identifying means 155; authenticationrestricting means 156; and operation iteration number displaying means157.

Incidentally, the display controlling means 154, the authenticationinformation identifying means 155, the authentication restricting means156 and the operation iteration number displaying means 157 aretypically constituted of software, but these may be constituted ofhardware alone or may be constituted of a combination of hardware andsoftware.

The power control unit 148 is constituted of a relay, a power controlelement and the like which are incorporated in an electrical system forsupplying power from a power source to a starter motor 149. The powercontrol unit 148 is configured to be switched over between a powersupplying state to the starter motor 149 when the key switch 141 isoperated to a start position, and a power cutoff state of the startermotor 149, according to a control signal sent from the authenticationprocessing device 150.

The flowchart in FIG. 17 shows the main points of the control of theauthentication processing device 150. Specifically, the operator uses akey (not shown) to turn the key switch 141 to an ON position, wherebypower is supplied to the authentication processing device 150 and thecontrol is started.

During the control after the initial setting, when a target switch(either the first switch 146 or the second switch 147) is lightly(shallowly) operated, the counting means 153 counts up the number ofoperation iterations, and the operation iteration number displayingmeans 157 displays the count value on the display 136 (see steps #101 to#104 and FIG. 18).

When the counting means 153 counts the number of operation iterations,the number of operation iterations each of the first stage switch partsof the first switch 146 and the second switch 147 is counted, and thenumber of operation iterations is acquired as inputted authenticationinformation. In the following description, it is supposed, as theinputted authentication information, that the number of operationiterations (C1) is the number of iterations of the first switch 146 andthe number of operation iterations (C2) is the number of iterations ofthe second switch 147.

At the initial setting, the stored authentication information (R1, R2)is programmed to be set and “0” is set (programmed) to an erroneousoperation iteration number value (N), and these are stored in a memory151. The value of R1 and the value of R2 in the stored authenticationinformation (R1, R2) are positive integers, at least one of the value ofR1 or the value of R2 being set to “2” or more; and the storedauthentication information (R1, R2) also includes the sequence of theoperations of the switches. Accordingly, if the value of R1 is “2” andthe value of R2 is “3”, for example, then, even when the value of thenumber of operation iterations (C1) is “2” and the value of the numberof operation iterations (C2) is “3”, no authentication is made if thesecond switch 147 is operated first and the first switch 146 is operatedlater (that is, if the inputted sequence is in reverse).

In step #104, the counting means 153 counts the number of operationiterations (C1) of the first switch 146 and the number of operationiterations (C2) of the second switch 147, and stores these numbers intoa buffer or the like. When the numbers of operation iterations (C1, C2)are counted, the sequence of the operations of the first switch 146 andthe second switch 147 is also stored. In case of this control mode, noauthentication is made if the input sequence of the first switch 146 andthe second switch 147 is in reverse. Instead thereof, authentication maybe made even if the input sequence is in reverse.

The count values (the number of operation iterations C1, C2) of thecounting means 153 are sent to the display controlling means 154, andwhen the number of operation iterations (C1) of the first switch 146 iscounted by the counting means 153, the display controlling means 154displays the count screen as shown in FIG. 18 on the display 136. Thecount screen corresponding to the first switch 146 has an upper stagethereof defining a message region 136M for displaying a message toprompt an operator's input; and a lower stage thereof defining a bardisplay region 136P in which a plurality of display points are lined upin the lateral direction in the form of a progress bar to be displayedin solid white when no input has yet been made, and also defining anumeric value display region 136Q for displaying the number of operationiterations (count value C1) in a numeric figure.

When the first switch 146 is operated, as shown in FIG. 18 (a), eachtime an operation is made, the display point of the number correspondingto the number of operation iterations (count value C1) is changed to bedisplayed in solid black in the direction of an arrow indicated by “U”in the FIG. 18 (a), i.e. from left toward right, on the bar displayregion 136P. At the same time, the number of operation iterations (countvalue C1) is displayed in a digital number on the numeric value displayregion 136Q.

When the number of operation iterations (C2) of the second switch 147 iscounted, the display controlling means 154 displays the count screen asshown in FIG. 18 on the display 136. The count screen corresponding tothe second switch 147 has an upper stage thereof defining a messageregion 136M for displaying a message to prompt an operator's input; anda lower stage thereof defining a bar display region 136P in which aplurality of display points are lined up in the lateral direction in theform of a progress bar to be displayed in solid black when no input hasyet been made, and also defining a numeric value display region 136Q fordisplaying the number of operation iterations (count value C2) in anumeric figure.

When the second switch 147 has been operated, as shown in FIG. 18 (b),each time an operation is made, the display point of the numbercorresponding to the number of operation iterations (count value C2) ischanged to be displayed in a solid white in the direction of an arrowindicated by “D” in FIG. 18 (b), i.e. from right toward left, on the bardisplay region 136P. At the same time, the number of operationiterations (count value C2) is displayed in a digital number on thenumeric value display region 136Q.

In other words, when the first switch 146 is operated, the displaypoints of the bar display region 136P are switched one by one to a solidblack display from the left side with each operation; and the number ofdisplay points in a solid black display increases together with thenumber of operation iterations (C1), and the numeric value on thenumeric value display region 136Q also increases. On the other hand,when the second switch 147 is operated, the display points of the bardisplay region 136P are switched one by one to a solid white displayfrom the right side with each operation; and the number of displaypoints in a solid white display increases (the solid black displaydecreases) together with the number of operation iterations (C2), andthe numeric value on the numeric value display region 136Q alsoincreases. This makes it possible for the operator to visuallyunderstand the number of operation iterations (C1) of the first switchand the number of operation iterations (C2) of the second switch 147.

Incidentally, the count screen is not limited to a progress bar displayand a digital numeric value display in combination as described above.Instead thereof, the count screen may display a character or wordindicative of a numeric value. In particular, in such control, the countscreen may be displayed even when the operation sequence between thefirst switch 146 and the second switch 147 is in reverse, such that itis impossible to analyze the correctness of the operation sequence frompresence/absence of the display on the count screen.

In step #105, the authentication information identifying means 155compares the inputted authentication information (C1, C2) which includesthe number of operation iterations (C1) of the first switch 146 and thenumber of operation iterations (C2) of the second switch (C2), with thestored authentication information (R1, R2). When the comparisondetermined that the stored authentication information (R1, R2) and theinputted authentication information (C1, C2) are identical, then powersupply to the starter motor 149 is permitted from the power control unit148 (steps #106, #107).

When the conformity is determined in this manner, the display 136 isswitched to a standard display mode suitable for working, and when thekey switch 141 is operated to the start position, the power control unit148 permits power supply to the starter motor 149 and starts up theengine 104. In the standard display mode, a basic information displayregion 136A indicative of the speed change stage of the main speedchange lever 127, the travel speed and the current point in time isdisplayed on the upper stage of the display 136, and a set informationdisplay region 136B indicative of the set information is displayed onthe lower stage of the display 136.

On the other hand, if the control determined that a switch other than atarget switch (the first switch 146 or the second switch 147) has beenoperated, or if the authentication processing determined that there isno conformity between the stored authentication information (R1, R2) andthe inputted authentication information (C1, C2), then the number oferroneous operations (N) is incremented by one; and if the number oferroneous operations (N) reaches “3,” then the authenticationrestricting means 156 performs the wait processing for a set period oftime, such that no authentication processing is performed during theperiod of time of the wait processing (steps #106, and #108 through#111).

In other words, when the authentication information identifying means155 has determined, for a set number of times of consecutive iterations,that the inputted authentication information (C1, C2) is not identicalto the stored authentication information (R1, R2), then a restrictionmode is produced in which the authentication restricting means 156allows no authentication to be performed in the authenticationprocessing device 150 until the set period of time elapses thereafter.Specifically, if a switch other than a target switch (the first switch146 or the second switch 147) has been operated, or if the number ofoperation iterations (C1) of the first switch 146 and the number ofoperation iterations (C2) of the second switch 147 are not identical tothe stored authentication information (R1, R2) even if the targetswitches have been operated, or if the operation sequences of the firstswitch 146 and the second switch 147 are different, then, at a point intime where the number of such erroneous operations reaches three (3),the authentication restricting means 156 restricts processing by theauthentication information identifying means 155 until the set period oftime has elapsed, whereby authentication by frequently performingoperations at random is prevented.

Functions and Effects of the Embodiments

As described above, in the present invention, since the authenticationis performed by operating the two switches i.e. the first switch 146 andthe second switch 147, for a set number of operation iterations in a setsequence, the precision of the authentication is enhanced thanks toincrease in the number of combinations of numbers of operationiterations, so that even though only two switches are used, highprecision of authentication is achieved, thus preventing theft. Further,when the first switch 146 and the second switch 147 have been operated,the number of operation iterations can be visually checked by thedisplay 136. Therefore, the number of erroneous operations is reduced.Moreover, when the first switch 146 and the second switch 147 areoperated, the screen is switched, and the display aspect of the numberof operation iterations also is switched, and therefore erroneousoperations can be favorably eliminated.

As described above, in the present invention, when the numbers ofoperation iterations (C1, C2) of the first switch 146 and the secondswitch 147 are correct, it is also possible to set the control mode suchthat the operation sequence of the first switch 146 and the secondswitch 147 is not set. When the control mode has been set in thismanner, there is no need for the operator to store the operationsequence of the first switch 146 and the second switch 147, and itbecomes possible to perform authentication without greatly lowering theprecision of the authentication.

Further, the single operational tool 145 is used to operate the twoswitches. Thus, one end part of the operational tool 145 is operated andthereafter the other end part is operated when an authentication is tobe performed. This allows for rapid operation of the switches and for acurtailed operation time for the authentication.

In particular, if an incorrect switch has been operated, if the numberof operation iterations (C1) of the first switch 146 or the number ofoperation iterations (C2) of the second switch 147 is incorrect, or ifthe sequence of operation of the first switch 146 and the second switch147 is incorrect, and if such cases occur three times, thenauthentication is temporarily stopped. Therefore, even when a personattempting to steal the work vehicle inputs authentication information(the inputted authentication information) at random, for example, thenumber of input iterations of the authentication information (theinputted authentication information) is restricted, rendering itdifficult to input authentication information (inputted authenticationinformation) which is identical to the stored authenticationinformation, thus enhancing performance in preventing theft.

Modifications of the Second Embodiment

As described above, the present invention can be applied to a device forallowing an engine to be started up after an authentication in a workvehicle provided with two switches.

Other than the foregoing embodiment as described above, the presentinvention may also be configured as follows.

(a) The first switch 146 and the second switch 147 are not limited tothose used also for the cruise control. Instead thereof, two switchingswitches for switching between a high speed and a low speed of thestepless speed change device 108, or two switches having entirelydifferent control targets, may also be used.(b) The operational tool for operating the two switches is not limitedto one acting in a seesaw manner. Instead thereof, the operational toolmay be a lever pivotabie around a predetermined swing axis, or oneslidable in a straight line.(c) The mode of the inputted authentication information is not limitedto one described in the foregoing embodiment. Instead of a single inputrotation including a set number of input iterations of the first switch146 and a set number of subsequent input iterations of the second switch147, at least one of the first switch 146 and the second switch 147 maybe sufficient, or at least twice such a rotation may be required, forthe inputted authentication information. As a further modification, theinputted authentication information may require a set number of inputiterations of the first switch 146, a set number of input iterations ofthe second switch 147 subsequent thereto, and again a set number ofinput iterations of the first switch 146. Setting the operation sequencein this manner dramatically improves the precision of the authenticationand also enhances the efficacy of the theft prevent even though only twoswitches are being used.(d) An authentication information storing mode and the like for allowingthe operator to set the stored authentication information may beprovided also. During the control of such an authentication informationstoring mode, not only the number of operation iterations of the firstswitch 146 and the number of operation iterations of the second switch147 but also the sequence of the operations of the two switches may beset as desired, for example. This makes it possible to periodicallychange the stored authentication information, and possible to furtherenhance the efficacy of the theft prevention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A work vehicle, comprising: an engine; anauthentication processing unit for permitting the engine to be startedonly when stored authentication information and authenticationinformation inputted by a manual operation are identical to each other;storage means for pre-storing the stored authentication information; afirst switch and a second switch for performing the manual operation,wherein the stored authentication information is the number of operationiterations of the first switch and the number of operation iterations ofthe second switch, at least one of the number of operation iterations ofthe first switch and the number of operation iterations of the secondswitch being set to at least two, and the authentication processing unitbeing configured to acquire, as the inputted authentication information,the number of operation iterations of the first switch and the number ofoperation iterations of the second switch; authentication informationidentifying means for comparing the inputted authentication informationacquired by the authentication processing unit with the storedauthentication information; and power controlling means for allowingpower to be supplied to a starter motor of the engine when the inputtedauthentication information is identical to the stored authenticationinformation at the authentication information identifying means.
 2. Thework vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: operationiteration number displaying means for displaying, on a display, thenumber of operation iterations of the first switch and the number ofoperation iterations of the second switch.
 3. The work vehicle accordingto claim 1, wherein the first switch and the second switch areconfigured to be operable by a single operational tool.
 4. The workvehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: authenticationrestricting means for not allowing the authentication processing unit toprovide authentication when the authentication informationcross-checking means determines, for a set number of times ofconsecutive iterations, that the inputted authentication information isnot in conformity with the stored authentication information, until aset period of time elapses thereafter.